# anything for a buck **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 2, 2001, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059 "2001-11-02T04:15:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skyblukat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c57346/32.png) [@Skyblukat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skyblukat)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/1 "2001-11-02T04:15:13Z")
I am so freaking sick of this false patriotism shit! Everywhere I go I see a new gimmick all in the name of patriotism.I went to Wal-mart for something, and everywhere shirts, socks, necklaces all sporting the new fad…the US flag. I can not turn on my tv without some freak trying to convince me that I need a weather proof flag to hang on my car. Yes we all love America, but apparently not as much as the manufactures love the almighty dollar! Whats next?“Get your USA pendant dipped in authentic GWB shit for only 19.99!!” I can not believe people would lower themselves to that level. Dont get me wrong, be patriotic but do not make money of off it. (By the way…I have some home-made puffy painted t-shirts with “go America!” slapped across. Only $15.00 while supplies last.) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/2 "2001-11-02T04:49:13Z")
Why don’t you have your kids pessle those around your neighborhood, and give the proceeds to their school? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/3 "2001-11-02T04:50:30Z")
Why don’t you have your kids **peddle** those around your neighborhood, and give the proceeds to their school? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/4 "2001-11-02T16:07:15Z")
kaylasdad99… I’m of the mind skyblukat was being just bit sarcastic. ---
**Author:** ![Skyblukat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c57346/32.png) [@Skyblukat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skyblukat)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/5 "2001-11-02T18:40:24Z")
My wonderful hubby just reminded me of another one. At a local bank is says"open up a new account here and get a free USA shirt." GOD. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/6 "2001-11-02T18:47:40Z")
But aren’t we a capitalist society?? Just think of all the dollars that are being circulated to make, market, and buy patriotic merchandise - how much more genuinely American can you get?? Not being sarcastic, believe it or not - just making an observation. ---
**Author:** ![Pandora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/eada6e/32.png) [@Pandora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pandora)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/7 "2001-11-02T19:20:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\*But aren’t we a capitalist society?? Just think of all the dollars that are being circulated to make, market, and buy patriotic merchandise - how much more genuinely American can you get?? > > Not being sarcastic, believe it or not - just making an observation. \*\* I agree with FairyChatMom. As long as people make a point to buy American made products (a good idea whether we are talking flag T-shirts or aluminium siding) buying and selling things is what this country does. A lot of those cheesey patriotic items are made overseas. In countries that do not even begin to understand what the American flag stands for. Please Please do not buy those “flag bedecked” products that do not carry a “Made in the USA” label, and try to remind other people not to as well. Buying American (and preferably locally made products) is probably the most important patriotic act, and it take soooo little effort. Wear the flag if you want, or wear your favorite sports team’s logo… it’s a free country (and we want to keep it that way). But check your labels… As I see it, people flying American flags made in China just don’t get it. (and skyblukat… homemade t-shirts would be an incredible thing to share with people around you, especially children… If you have kids (or even if you don’t) why not donate some materials or time to help a group of kids (school class, scouts, PAL whatever) make their own shirts to show what America means to them. It would be a great lesson in symbolism. And just might make people think a moment about what those symbols they pick up at the local mega mart really mean) ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/8 "2001-11-02T19:32:42Z")
I just wanted to point out that the “American Flag” fashion thing has been “in” since last Spring. Thanks partly to DSquared fashions (and I think Marc Jacobs), the “cowboy” look came in and took off with Madonna’s Drowned World Tour, and the Uber-Americana thing sort of tagged along, with Punk not far behind. Union Jack and American Flag red/white/blue stuff has been floating around for awhile (said the compulsive shopper!). ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/9 "2001-11-02T23:35:47Z")
Actually, even if it says, Made in the USA, that doesn’t guarantee it, believe it or not. Sadly, many items that claim to be “Made in America”, are actually made overseas or in sweatshops in South and Central America. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/10 "2001-11-03T00:24:28Z")
E-mail me for authentic American Flag Turbans, hand-crafted from 5’x9’ burial flags, here in good old Idaho. Support your local hippie. ---
**Author:** ![Skyblukat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c57346/32.png) [@Skyblukat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skyblukat)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/11 "2001-11-03T00:28:27Z")
(I was just joking about the homemade t-shirt thing) ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/12 "2001-11-03T00:45:07Z")
> [@](#): > > As I see it, people flying American flags made in China just don’t get it. I have an American flag that was made here in the good ole US of A (New Jersey to be precise) and it’s the biggest piece of shit. I am sorry I spent $30 on this poor excuse for a flag. I have seen some flags made over seas that last more than a month without fraying and fading…I refuse to spend another $30 on another American made flag if the quality is not there. I am looking at another flag to replace this pitiful excuse for an American made flag and not sure where it’s made. If it lasts longer than this piece of shit, it could be made by Martians for all I care. I want to display it proudly but because it’s American made doesn’t make it superior. Oh and I have always been patriotic, this just forced me to think about it more and after many years of wanting a flag but not getting one (yes, seriously) this just pushed me to do it. Too bad an American company disappointed me. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/13 "2001-11-03T00:53:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Reeder \* > \*\*kaylasdad99… > > I’m of the mind skyblukat was being just bit sarcastic. \*\* …and, from **Skyblukat** > [@](#): > > (I was just joking about the homemade t-shirt thing) I knew all that. I was just making what I thought was a clever allusion to [another OP](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=95561) by **Skyblukat**. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/14 "2001-11-03T00:57:23Z")
sorry **Skyblukat** , I missed **Pandora’s** post. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anything-for-a-buck/91059/15 "2001-11-03T01:01:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Actually, even if it says, Made in the USA, that doesn’t guarantee it, believe it or not. Sadly, many items that claim to be “Made in America”, are actually made overseas or in sweatshops in South and Central America. IANAL, but I believe by law if the label says “Made in the USA” the item has to have been made in the USA. Unfortunately, “the USA” includes places like American Samoa and Guam and other colonies (oh, sorry, “protectorates”) where goods may be manufactured in sweatshop conditions but still legally carry the “made in the USA” label.